Plants are not the only organisms to
produce spores; the fungi produce spores as well. The
mushrooms or the toadstools that we find growing in the
countryside are spore producing structures of fungi which grow
in the soil. The mushroom or toadstool is the result of two
fungi of the same species coming into contact in the soil.
Together these two fungi produce the mushroom. Reproduction
takes place inside the mushroom and as a result spores are
produced.

The spores of mushrooms are microscopic so they are easily
carried on the wind. To catch the wind the spores are released above the ground
from underneath the cap of the mushroom.

Not all mushrooms have gills. Some, such as
the cep, have tubes under the cap which release spores.

Other fungi, such as the earth balls,
produce their spores in a spherical structure. When the earth
ball is ripe its skin dries and splits. The shock of raindrops
or other objects falling onto the earth ball causes clouds of
spores to be released.

When
it is ripe (fully developed) the earth ball splits and releases its spores.

Another method of dispersal is used by the
stink-horn fungus. This fungus gets its name from the strong
smell of rotting flesh that it produces. The smell attracts
flies which pick up spores on the their legs as they crawl
over the cap of the stinkhorn. The flies then disperse the
spores of this fungus to other habitats.

The stinkhorn fungus disperses its spores by attracting flies.

Using seeds and spores is necessary for
plants and mushrooms to populate new areas because such
organisms have no means of locomotion. Other types of
organisms do not need seeds and spores because they can move.
When animals populate an new area, they get there using their
own means of locomotion: walking, swimming, or flying.